Campaign Phone
9042108939
As a proud 2006 West Nassau High School graduate, a 15-year educator, Regional Development Manager, Economic Development Consultant, and have served the last four years as Nassau County Commissioner. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of North Florida and completed the Florida Agricultural Policy Leadership Program through the University of Florida. My experience spans education, workforce development, regional partnerships, budgeting, infrastructure planning, economic development, conservation, and public policy. Most importantly, I have a proven record of bringing people together, building partnerships, and making thoughtful decisions that balance growth, fiscal responsibility, and preserving the quality of life.
he two most pressing issues facing Nassau County are managing growth responsibly and protecting public safety. Nassau County continues to grow rapidly, and we must ensure growth is guided by thoughtful planning that protects our rural character, natural resources, infrastructure, and quality of life while ensuring growth pays for growth. At the same time, public safety must remain a top priority. We must continue investing in our Sheriff's Office, Fire Rescue, emergency preparedness, and the facilities, equipment, and personnel needed to keep residents safe. Strong communities are built by planning ahead and making investments before challenges become crises.
I believe effective leadership is built on preparation, relationships, and results. Over the past four years, I have gained firsthand experience navigating complex county issues, balancing budgets, building partnerships, and making decisions that impact our community every day. My background in education, public service, economic development, and regional collaboration has taught me how to listen, solve problems, and bring people together around shared goals. The characteristics I bring to this role are integrity, transparency, accountability, and a long-term perspective. As a mother raising my family here, I understand that every decision we make today will shape the Nassau County future generations inherit.
Growth is both our greatest opportunity and our greatest responsibility. Growth brings new jobs, investments, and opportunities for future generations, but it also places pressure on our roads, public safety systems, water resources, and quality of life. The solution is not to stop growth, but to proactively manage it. I believe Nassau County must continue strengthening our Land Development Code, protecting local home rule, and working alongside state legislators to ensure local communities retain a voice in shaping their future. Growth should happen on our terms, with clear policies that protect taxpayers, preserve our character, and ensure infrastructure and services keep pace with development.
The answer is not to simply say yes or no to growth. The answer is to be proactive instead of reactive. Nassau County must continue modernizing its Land Development Code so our local policies reflect the community we want to become over the next 20 to 30 years, not the county we were decades ago. I also believe strongly in protecting home rule. Local communities should have a meaningful voice in local decisions, and we must continue working with state legislators to ensure statewide policies provide flexibility for communities like Nassau County to address their unique needs and challenges. Ultimately, growth should happen on our terms—with thoughtful planning, strong public engagement, fiscal responsibility, and policies that protect.
Cheryl Plaugher has spent her career in the private sector, where she learned the importance of accountability, fiscal responsibility, and making decisions based on facts rather than politics. Licensed as a Florida real estate agent at 18 and a University of Florida graduate with a degree in Agribusiness, Food, and Resource Economics, she has over 20 years of experience in healthcare business development and marketing. As the wife of a law enforcement officer and “mom” to retired K9 Huk, Cheryl is a strong advocate for public safety. She is running to provide transparent, independent leadership that puts Nassau County families first. She believes in responsible growth, transparent government, and putting residents before special interests.
The two most pressing issues facing Nassau County are responsible growth and fiscal accountability. Growth is inevitable, but poor planning is not. For too long, growth has outpaced our infrastructure, schools, transportation, and public safety. I believe growth should pay for growth by ensuring developers contribute their fair share toward the infrastructure and services their projects require. Every development should be evaluated based on its impact on our community, compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods, environmental effects, and our ability to provide essential services.The second issue is restoring public trust through transparency and responsible spending. Citizens deserve to know exactly how their tax dollars are being spent
My greatest qualification is that I represent the citizens-not special interests. I built my career in the private sector, where accountability and fiscal responsibility are expected every day. I have spent years researching county government, attending public meetings, reviewing budgets, and listening to residents. As the wife of a law enforcement officer with more than 20 years of service and with several firefighter family members, I understand the importance of supporting public safety. I bring honesty, integrity, independence, and a willingness to listen. I am not seeking a political career-I am seeking to provide transparent leadership that always puts service before self.
Growth brings both opportunities and challenges. When managed responsibly, it strengthens our economy, creates jobs, and expands the tax base. Poorly planned growth, however, strains roads, schools, public safety, utilities, and natural resources while changing the character of our communities. My priority is ensuring growth pays for growth. Developers should help fund the infrastructure and public safety improvements their projects require instead of shifting those costs to taxpayers. Every major project should be evaluated for infrastructure capacity, compatibility with surrounding properties, environmental impact, and its effect on residents' quality of life. Growth should strengthen Nassau County, not come at its expense.
Driven by principles of faith and rooted in this community, Cheryl is running because she has been personally affected by the same development concerns that impact us all, and she wants to ensure the people who call Nassau County home have a voice in the decision-making process. She will bring a strong, independent voice to the County Commission focused on transparency, balanced growth, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and putting Nassau County families first.
